Banned Books Special: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie; The Story of a Spokane Native American Boy is Both Humorous and Heartfelt

Banned Books Special: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie; The Story of a Spokane Native American Boy is Both Humorous and Heartfelt

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: Sherman Alexie's National Book Award YA Novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian has the unfortunate and dubious distinction of having both book and author being banned and challenged at different times. The book has received accusations of “profanity, frank sexual discussions including masturbation, frequent alcoholism, and a negative portrayal of the home life of the Spokane Native American tribe.” (among other things) If this laundry list wasn't enough, in 2018 it's author, Sherman Alexie has been accused of sexual harassment by several women. These allegations caused many schools and libraries to cancel Alexie's scheduled readings and also caused Alexie to decline the Carnegie Award for his current release, You Don't Have To Say You Love Me: A Memoir and for the American Indian Library Association to rescind it's 2008 Award for Part-Time Indian.

While the former accusations are technically true, like many banned and challenged books, Part-Time Indian is so much more than what it's accusers believe it to be. More on that later.

Now for the latter accusation towards Sherman Alexie himself, I am a proud supporter of the Time's Up Movement and if these allegations against Alexie are true, they are certainly awful. He should avoid making public appearances for now since it will only make him, his audience  and accusers uncomfortable. Should his current books remain on shelves? I hope so for they still have something to say. However, it is up to the patron or customer whether they wish to borrow or buy them. Any future endeavors? Perhaps a cool-off period would be wise for some time until all legal issues are finished and then publishers etc. can do what they feel is right depending on the verdict and Alexie’s plea.

But what about The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian? An award winning well-written book that has been published and praised beginning a full ten years before these accusations came about? I have always believed that the artist should be separated from his or her work. There are plenty of good novels as well as films, shows, and other forms of art made by people who have done horrible things and were horrible people.

 With Mists of Avalon for instance, I admire Morgaine as one of my favorite female characters in literature. I cite the book as a prominent influence assisting me down my path as a Wiccan and a Feminist. However, I find Marion Zimmer Bradley's sexual abuse towards her daughter deplorable and inexcusable.

I feel the same way about Arnold Spirit Jr. Why should a bright, talented, funny protagonist get punished because his creator behaves terribly towards women? I say give Alexie the allegations and the trial, but leave Junior alone. He’s a great kid even if his author isn't.

It's not like Arnold Spirit Jr. doesn't have enough problems of his own which he deals with both humor and earnestness in this wonderful book that has the ability to make its Reader laugh or cry or do both.

14-year-old, Arnold Junior lives on the Spokane Reservation in which everyone he knows lives on or below the poverty line. He is no stranger to going to bed hungry and he has several relatives or friends’ relatives who are alcoholics.

His father is a depressed alcoholic who while doesn't beat him mercilessly like his friend, Rowdy's father does, disappears for days on end on a drunken binge. Jr.’s sister, Mary AKA Mary Runs Away is a high school graduate who has dropped out of life by just remaining in the family's basement in a deep depression.

Besides his family and social background, Junior’s health is a concern. He is a hydrocephalic, a condition which causes excess fluid in the brain. He is nearsighted in one eye and farsighted in the other so that causes him to wear thick large glasses. He is susceptible to seizures and speaks with both a stutter and a lisp. All of these problems give Junior permanent membership in, as he dubs it, “The-Black-Eye-Of-The-Month Club”, constant bullying by other kids and a pair of 30-year-old brothers who really should have something better to do than beat up a 14-year-old boy.

Any one of these problems would be enough to put most people into despair and a permanent state of depression. But Junior is able to challenge his life's difficulties with his sarcastic wit and talent for drawing.

Junior is often given to one-liners that often poke fun at himself and the people around him.

One passage at his grandmother's funeral displays Junior's wit perfectly. A white billionaire whom Junior recognizes as Ted gives a long clichéd speech about how he relates to the Indian culture and feels Indian in his bones. Junior merely rolls his eyes and privately riffs the guy’s attempts at humility. (“Do you know how many white strangers show up on Indian reservations every year and start telling Indians how much they love them? Thousands. It's sickening. And boring.”)

Besides his words, Junior's drawings reveal his true soul especially with his drive to become a cartoonist.

 The illustrations by Ellen Forney are the highlights of the book as they reveal Junior's thoughts and often make many good points in clever satiric ways.

For example, an illustration of Junior's parents is titled “What My Parents Would Have Been If Somebody Had Paid Attention To Their Dreams.” The pictures depicts Jr.’s mother as “Spokane Falls Community College Teacher of The Year 1992-1998” and his father as “The Fifth Best Jazz Sax Player West of the Mississippi.” (Complete with “a stylish bob from Vidal Sassoon for $50.00” for Mom and “a white dress shirt from KMart -cause he likes to 'keep it real,’” for Dad.) Illustrations like this show the humorous asides that Junior makes to try to make sense in a world where his parents have long ago given up on their dreams that were closed because of their race and socioeconomic status.

Besides Junior's sense of humor, another thing that pushes him along is his desire to move from the Reservation and see other places. On his first day at the Reservation high school, Junior becomes aware that the textbook that he is given is the same one his mother used-over 20 years ago. In a fury, he hurls the book at the front of the classroom. Instead of becoming angry, Junior's teacher sees a burning desire in the teenager to make something of himself. He also remembers that Junior's older sister, Mary, wanted to be a romance novelist and like everyone else including her parents gave up on her dream. The teacher recommends that Junior transfer to Reardon, the nearby mostly white school in which the only other Native American is the school mascot.

The transfer causes more problems for Junior to handle. The white kids treat him like he’s a strange sideshow attraction. People on the Reservation think Junior sold out and is acting white, particularly his best friend, Rowdy who gets into some violent fights with Junior.

 It is only when Junior gains some success on the school's basketball team and befriends a couple of outsiders in Reardon: Gary, the school nerd and Penelope, a  popular girl who is also bulimic, that he begins to adjust to his new surroundings.

Despite all of his troubles, Junior is aware that he has the love and support of his family. This is particularly shown when over the course of the book, Junior and his family attend three funerals, each one sadder than the last. Junior holds onto his mother and father, grateful that they love and support him. He also reflects about how many of the Reardon kids don't have a father or mother in the picture. Junior knows that despite the poverty and difficulties, the Reservation also includes family that are tied by love, blood, and support.

Like many banned and challenged books, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is greater than the accusations thrown at it. It is funny, moving, tragic, and is a truly memorable story of a boy who acknowledges, mocks, and embraces his family and heritage.